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London is, obviously, home to some of the greatest galleries on the globe. But it’s far from the only place in the UK where you’ll find world-renowned masterpieces and exciting contemporary works. The country’s regional art galleries, from the V&A Dundee to the Hepworth Wakefield, give institutions in the capital more than a run for their money.
We’ve been deprived of one of Britain’s finest regional galleries for two years now – but in just one month’s time, it’ll make a grand return. Following a big £2.23m renovation, the brilliant Southampton City Art Gallery is set to reopen on Saturday March 7.
The Grade II-listed gallery is home to a collection of more than 5,000 pieces spanning 800 years. The formidable collection features works ranging from John Singer Sargent, JMW Turner and William Blake to Gilbert & George, Antony Gormley, Lucien Freud and Claude Monet. Its huge refurb has involved the restoration of the its crescent-shaped windows, the replacement of the west wing roof and several internal repairs.
Alongside its permanent displays, Southampton City Art Gallery will relaunch with a special exhibition from Southampton-born artist and Pixies and Band of Skulls musician Emma Richardson. Titled Levitate Me: Desire, Ecstasy and The Sublime, it’ll display Richardson’s collection of large-scale oil paintings that ‘explore desire, euphoria and the awe-inspiring natural world through a female lens’. It’s Richardson’s first major solo exhibition and will take over the entire east wing of the gallery.
Back in November, the gallery ran a poll asking the public which pieces from its collection they’d most like to see when it reopens. The winning artworks include Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s ‘The Boat on the Lake’, Lisa Milroy’s ‘Togetherness’, Eric Meadus’ ‘Portrait of a Nurse’ and Mary Hayllar’s ‘The Lawn Tennis Season’. Visitors will also get to see Daniel Buren’s ‘With the Arcades’ stripes installation, which has been painstakingly reinstalled in the gallery’s main hall.
All exhibitions at Southampton City Art Gallery are completely free to visit with no need to book.
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